“It felt really good, maybe too good, which means I needed to push harder, so I did.”
“We had our largest attendance ever,” said Bear Jaw Events Coordinator Stevie Sanchez, who, for the first time, rode in the race since its inception in 2012. “I competed in the 44-miler and got a flat tire the first and second lap. So, I ate a fish taco and got back on the trail.”
“We had a total of 272 riders,” said Bear Jaw Events co-organizer and Trail Manos co-founder Nick Menninger. “It was a great day, and I was so excited for the turnout.”
Winning their division, Dylan Keith, 16, rode for Cottonwood’s Verde Valley Bicycle Company team and tackled the quad 12-hour race. “It felt really good, maybe too good, which means I needed to push harder, so I did.”
For the second year, Kopa Home Services owner Tim Allen served as emcee. “It’s so great to see people out here at the Nordic Village. This is such an awesome event. The Nordic Village is such a great place to ride mountain bikes because the trails out here are so nice.”
Race sponsors included Nackard Pepsi, Trail Manos, Findlay Toyota Flagstaff, Emigos Bike Shop, Moxi Nutrition, Physio Shop Clinic and Run Flagstaff.
Joe Denowh of Phoenix participated in the event for the second time. His team won the four-man race last year. “The most exciting thing about this race is it’s not 115 degrees, and the dirt is nice and sticky. It’s a fun spot.” he said. FBN
By V. Ronnie Tierney, FBN
Photo by V. Ronnie Tierney, Fresh Focuses Photography: Top: Cyclists headed out for the 22-mile sprint.